Plans Advance for 2025 National Championship Air Races

According to race officials, all seven classes of airplanes will take to the sky.

"We are incredibly excited as an organization for this monumental step in air racing history as we begin to execute our plan for the 2025 National Championship Air Races,” said Tony Logoteta, president and chief operating officer of the Reno Air Racing Association (RARA). "We’re invigorated by the fact that we’re hosting the air races in a brand-new venue in Roswell. It’s going to be amazing to see this iconic event put on again and see our September family.”

Race organizers have visited Roswell several times in recent months to meet with airport staff, emergency services, and city officials to design a new course for the races, review safety protocols, and establish partnerships with the community, according to the organization. Contractors have also been secured for construction of race infrastructure, such as a grandstand.

Air race pilots are expected to visit the area to fly the proposed course in advance of the Pylon Racing Seminar (PRS) scheduled to be held in May in Roswell.

Race officials said the new venue will make for different challenges for the racers, but that "attendees can expect the same spirit of camaraderie, competition and classes of planes that are hallmarks of NCAR."

Ticket sales and race details will be available in months to come. 

“Reuniting with our September family for the first air races in a new venue will be a historic and emotional moment for our organization as we eagerly prepare for next year alongside our partners in Roswell,” said Fred Telling, RARA chairman and chief executive officer.

The National Championship Air Races traces its roots back to the Cleveland Air Races of the 1920s, '30s, and '40s. 

The event, billed as the fastest motorsport around, moved to Nevada in 1964. It was first held at Sky Ranch airfield near Spanish Springs, before it moved to Stead Air Force Base, which was later renamed Reno-Stead Airport (KRTS) after the base closed.

In September 2023, fans gathered at the Nevada airport for the last air race at that location, which local officials said was a venue no longer able to accommodate the growing sport. Over the decades, homes and subdivisions encroached upon the airport that had once been remote, sparking concerns about potential accidents that could harm area residents. 

The air races have become an end of summer institution for aviation enthusiasts from around the world. In addition to attracting hundreds of aircraft, pilots and support crews, the event also features large displays of static aircraft along with demonstrations of military and civil aircraft.

The National Championship Air Races are set for September 10-14, 2025.